Technology

Siemens has introduced what it says is the first waterproof hearing aid, capable of working as deep as three feet underwater.Called the Aquaris, the device can also be connected to a Bluetooth remote, called the Minitek, that streams audio to the earpieces, allowing you to listen to music from a Bluetooth music player when swimming, or to give an accessory microphone to someone to whom you need to pay close attention in a noisy room.

A survey by Siemens found that of 500 hearing-aid owners, 17 per cent restricted their activity to avoid damaging their hearing aids. That curtailment is particularly hard on groups like hearing-impaired children and people who work at jobs where there is dust or grime, like farmers or steel workers. By locking out moisture, the hearing aid becomes dust- and dirt-proof as well.The Aquaris is available through audiologists nationwide, and is priced at around $2,500 per ear, although that number varies based on the cost of the custom fitting.